Chameleons are not only colorful but are also interesting reptiles. As we all know, chameleons are capable of changing the colors of their skin. Male and female chameleons have different color pigmentations.
Juvenile and female chameleons are tan-brown with traces of orange or pink. Male chameleons, however, have different combinations of green, blue, bright red, and yellow.
Chameleons are closely related to the iguana suborder. These vibrant lizards are also part of very few animals that can change the color of their skin.
It is, however, a strong misconception that chameleons switch colors to match their environments.
Size
According to the ITIS ( Integrated Taxonomic Information System), 171 species of chameleons exist. With this many different species, these chameleons must come in different sizes.
Encyclopedia Britannica says the largest chameleon recorded is the Parson’s chameleon. It grows up to 69.5 centimeters (37 inches) long. The Oustalet, also known as the Madagascan chameleon, is very large and can grow up to 60 cm (23 inches) long.
The smallest chameleon, however, has a specific distinction. It is also one of the tiniest vertebrates ever found. The leaf chameleon can grow to about 16 millimeters (0.5 inches) and comfortably sit on the head of a match stick.
Chameleons, unlike other reptiles, don’t stop growing throughout their lives. They shed their skin in little pieces as their old skin becomes too small, unlike snakes that can shed all at once.
The Skin of Many Colors
Changing skin color is a vital part of communication among this reptile. “Chameleons switch their skin color in response to emotions, such as fear or anger, change in light, humidity or temperature,” according to the San Diego Zoo.
Male chameleons appear more attractive and more dominant, depending on how bright they display their skin color.
Submissive male chameleons often display gray or brown skin. Female chameleons then choose male suitors that appear most attractive. Female chameleons can also use their color to indicate that they are pregnant.
A recent study has shown that chameleons can rapidly change colors by adjusting specific cells -known as iridophore cells- in each layer. By exciting or relaxing their skin, chameleons can change the arrangement of upper cell structures, which causes a change in skin color.
Habitat
Chameleons live in Africa, Madagascar, Spain, Asia, and Portugal in savannas, rain forests, stepped, and semi-deserts. They naturally stay in bushes or trees, while some species live on the ground. For instance, the horned leaf chameleon can be found in dead leaves on forest floors.
Diet
Chameleons’ diet consists of birds and insects. They creep in very slowly to catch their prey. Once their prey is close enough, they shoot out their long, sticky tongues to catch their meal.
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the chameleons’ tongue is twice as long as their body. Once they catch their prey, it is drawn to the back of the color shifter’s mouth, broken down and digested by active stomach acids.
Water is very vital to the growth and health of a chameleon. They either inhale water or they slurp it using their tongues.
Habits
Most chameleons use their prehensile tails to wrap around branches of trees. They also use their large toes to grip branches firmly.
Aside from having the ability to change colors, chameleons possess another feature that other animals don’t. They can move their eyes independently of each other. This feature allows them to focus on two different directions simultaneously. Like camera lenses, chameleons can quickly enlarge their focus on an object.
Naturally, chameleons are loners. Most of the time, female chameleons prefer to be left alone by male chameleons. On rare occasions, a female chameleon doesn’t mind company, and male chameleons may approach them for mating. As stated earlier, brighter-colored males are more likely to get the girls than duller-looking males.
Offspring
Chameleons are dissimilar from many reptiles because species like Jackson’s chameleon have live births. Jackson’s chameleons can give birth to (8 to 30) baby chameleons at once, and their gestation period can last up to six months.
Even though young Jacksons are born alive -unlike other reptiles that lay their young ones as eggs- chameleon babies started as eggs. Jackson’s chameleon mothers have the eggs incubated inside their bodies instead of having them laid in nests.
Other chameleon species lay eggs that get incubated for 4 to 24 months, depending on the chameleon species. The number of eggs laid solely depends on the size of the chameleon. Small-sized chameleons lay about 2 to 4 eggs, while bigger chameleons can produce 80 to 100 at once.
Generally, chameleons hit maturity at 1 to 2 years old, regardless of the chameleon species, except for the Madagascan chameleon. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the Madagascan chameleon has been tagged as the vertebrate with the shortest lifespan in the world.
Their eggs get hatched in November, they reach adulthood in January, reproduce in February, and the whole adult population dies off, which concludes a lifespan of only three months.
Taxonomy
The classification of chameleons, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System, is:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Subkingdom: Bilateria
- Infrakingdom: Deuterostomia
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Reptilia
- Superclass: Tetrapoda
- Family: Chamaeleonidae
- Subfamilies: Brookesiinae, Chamaeleoninae
- Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
- Order: Squamata
- Suborder: Iguania
Genera & Species
Within the two subfamilies are 171 species and nine genera. A few examples include— Furcifer oustaleti (Oustalet’s chameleon), Chameleo jacksonii (Jackson’s chameleon), Calumma parsonii (Parson’s chameleon), and Brookesia minima (pygmy leaf chameleon).
Many chameleon species are endangered. Many chameleon species are endangered, according to the (International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species).
Some species considered in danger of extinction are the Elandsberg dwarf chameleon, tiger chameleon, Decary’s leaf chameleon, and the Namoroka chameleon.
What do you think? Wouldn’t you like to have a chameleon as a pet? Do you have a chameleon? What do you think about them? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
